[Milsurplus] [GreenKeys] lack of civility

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sun, Feb 13, 2011 at 5:57 PM, Jim Haynes <jhhaynes at earthlink.net> wrote:

> So it seems to me almost as if every frequency there is is claimed by
> some net or other at most of the usable hours of the day, and if a guy
> just wants to make a random contact using voice he has no place to go.

I ran into this same problem years ago on 20m, Jim. Drove me nuts. I
always tried to accommodate by moving, but eventually got sick of the
whole scene. Don't get me wrong - I've joined nets in the past and
likely will in the future. There are many good, decent folks out there
who conduct themselves in a responsible, adult manner without the need
for drama. When I upgraded to General, it was a great way to get my
feet wet.

The rub takes place when then 'frequency ownership' issue comes up.
During prime time (evening hours after dinner, usually) it can be
difficult to find a spot in some portions of the band because everyone
wants to have their radio time. Somehow having a net apparently makes
it okay to claim a specific frequency without any flexibility
involved. Years back, most nets had a backup frequency or a +/-
understanding in the event the frequency was in use, there was QRM
from nearby contacts, and so on. That no longer seems to be the case.

If these groups were a little more practical in their handling of such
issues, I really believe a lot of the nonsense we hear would vanish.
But it seems people are losing the ability to reason or figure out
these simple matters, preferring the same frequency day after day,
with no back up plan when the frequency is occupied. As I pointed out
to one net control who lectured me for being on 'their' frequency - no
one made me aware of any net or schedule, and my dial only has numbers
on it, not anyone's callsign. When you think about it, how would
anyone but a member of that group have any idea? We'd all love to have
our own, personal, reserved frequency for use at our leisure. That's
what VHF and above is for. (o:

Thankfully, there is plenty of space below 3800 that is open and quiet
in the evenings. Not as much but still enough below 7200 on 40, and
plenty on 160 which is a somewhat self-limiting band by distance most
nights.

If things can be worked out agreeably by all parties, that's great.
But if a frequency is occupied when someone decides to start their
net, it's incumbent upon them to make other arrangements if the
frequency remains in use.

Of course, this has little to do with what Roy mentioned. Those
parties exist to poke at each other every night. Last weekend during
the AM Transmitter Rally I heard one of the Marconi group on 3880
trying to pick a fight with one of the AM group who was only to happy
to oblige. Was operating with several other ops, we moved down band
and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

It should be fun and relaxing, not tedious and annoying. I think
you'll enjoy it a lot Jim, once you're more comfortable with it and
moving around the band. There really is a lot of space out there
begging to be used. I'm only an Advanced Class, so on 80m I stop at
3705 to stay in band. Tuning below there into the 3600 range in the
evening results in barely any activity.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4